Erythrosine
Also known as: Red No. 3, Erythrosine B, Red Dye #3
Colorants
Safety rating
Use Sparingly
Eat Away!Generally SafeUse SparinglyAvoid
Purpose and Function
Erythrosine is a synthetic red dye providing a bright pink-to-red hue, used in candies, baked goods, snack foods, soft drinks, and ice cream, as well as printing inks, radiographic imaging, and dental plaque-disclosing tablets.
Commonly found in
- —Candies and baked goods
- —Snack foods and soft drinks
- —Ice cream
- —Dental plaque-disclosing tablets
Key functions
- —Provides a bright pink to red color
Potential Risks and Side Effects
- 01Possible contributor to hyperactive behavior in children
- 02High doses linked to thyroid tumors in laboratory animals, leading the FDA to ban it in cosmetics and some pharmaceuticals (still permitted in limited food use)
- 03Can cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes